The Athletic NBA Daily Are the Knicks broken? + Norman Powell is bowlegged
Jan 22, 2026
Fred Katz, a veteran NBA reporter for The Athletic, dives into Norman Powell's fascinating evolution from bench scorer to a key player for the Clippers and Heat. He highlights Powell's unique biomechanics, particularly his bow-leggedness, and how it influences his play style, including his noteworthy step-back move. The discussion also shifts to the troubled New York Knicks, where Katz identifies defensive lapses and team dynamics as central issues, speculating on potential roster moves and the future under coach Mike Brown.
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Fred's Long-Winded Interviewing Habit
- Fred Katz tells a recurring joke about rambling stories with colleague Stefan Bondi while Bondi races against tight newspaper deadlines.
- He uses it to self-deprecate his verbose interview style and tease his lengthy NBA 'lectures.'
Norm Powell Proudly Shows His Bow Legs
- Fred Katz describes discovering Norman Powell's pronounced bow-legged stance during an in-person interview and how Powell proudly demonstrated it.
- Katz recounts Bam Adebayo joking Powell's legs look like parentheses and how that quote improved his article's lead.
Reconsider The 65-Game MIP Rule
- Katz argues the 65-game threshold for Most Improved Player distorts recognition and should be reconsidered in CBA talks.
- He suggests MIP should reward true role and play-style transformations, not arbitrary game minimums.